How to Apply Makeup in 8 Easy Steps

Morning makeup — or even evening makeup — can take a long time. When you’re short on time, follow these ten easy steps to getting your face ready in minutes. These steps are for a natural look — for a more dramatic application try our tips for smoky eye shadow application and fuller lips.

Things You’ll Need:

- Face soap
- Moisturizer
- Concealer
- Foundation
- Blush or Bronzer
- Mascara
- Lipstick or lip gloss
- Translucent face powder
- Brushes: concealer brush, blush brush, powder brush
- Makeup sponges (optional)

10 Easy Steps to a Beautifully Made-Up Face:

1. Clean: You’ll want to start with a clean canvas. Use your favorite skin soap to wash your face. Dry completely with a towel.

2. Moisturize: Apply a generous amount of moisturizer, with SPF protection, to combat the sun’s harmful rays and to help makeup go on smoother.

3. Concealer: Dot concealer under the eyes, along the sides of your nose and on any blemishes you want to cover up. Use a makeup sponge or concealer brush to blend the makeup in.

4. Foundation: If you’re using a makeup sponge, wet the sponge lightly and squeeze out excess water so that the sponge is just damp. Put a dime-sized amount of foundation on your hand and apply evenly with the sponge. If you’re not using a sponge, use your fingertips. Make sure you cover your face evenly — repeating for fuller coverage if necessary.

5. Blush or Bronzer: Using your blush brush, swirl brush in your blush or bronzer tin and first sweep brush from the apples (the highest raised point) of your cheek (TIP: smiling helps to ‘find’ the apples) to your temple. Repeat to get desired depth of color (don’t over do it!). Brush blush lightly down ridge of nose, across chin and on eyelids for a healthy glow.

6. Mascara: Add a light coat of mascara to your eyelashes, starting at the base and running the wand through. Don’t apply more than two coats or you’ll end up with a clumpy look.

7. Lipstick or Lipgloss: If you have a lip brush, use the brush to apply your lipstick. Using a brush will result in a deeper and more precise application. After putting on the lip stick, dot some lipgloss in the middle of your bottom lip for a pouty effect.

8. Face powder: Set your look and make it last as long as possible by sweeping translucent powder over your face. The powder will prevent shine and will set your makeup.

That’s it!